Search Weight Loss Topics:

Page 1,667«..1020..1,6661,6671,6681,669..1,6801,690..»

Food for thought: Your diet and cancer – CBS News – CBS News

Posted: March 12, 2017 at 6:46 pm

What, if anything, can we do in our own personal lives to possibly hold cancer at bay? Martha Teichner has some food for thought:

Chef Eric Levines Eureka! moment about healthy food came with his fifth cancer. Yes, hes beaten cancer five times.

That moment came on the best and worst day of his life. Hours after chemotherapy and radiation, barely able even to stand up, he competed on the Food Network show, Chopped.

In the middle of it I had that, like, moment of clarity where I thought, You know what? I could win this competition, and I could beat cancer, he told Teichner.

He did win. But his doctor told him, change the way you eat -- or die. So far hes lost 65 pounds.

So the relationship of food to health and wellness, its massive. I didnt get it, he said.

Now he wants everybody to get it. He sneaks healthy dishes like a stuffed acorn squash onto the menu at his N.J. restaurant.

When things are jammed down your throat, people resist, Levine said.

What you eat has tremendous bearing upon preventing or treating cancer and other diseases.

CBS News

What cancer patients eat matters. Mary-Eve Brown, an oncology dietician at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, told Teichner, Its been reported that two out of three people, when they show up for that very first oncology appointment for treatment, are already suffering nutritionally -- theyre undernourished or malnourished.

One patient, Jack Appelfeld, had about a quarter of a cup of chicken noodle soup. It went, as he put it, terrible. Because he was so malnourished, Appelfelds chemotherapy session had to be cancelled.

Any time that we hold treatment, that has impact on survival, said Brown. Thats how powerful nutrition is during your cancer treatment.Badly enough that Appelfelds scheduled chemotherapy had to be cancelled.

So, is there evidence that food can actually cause cancer?

Theres a relationship between high-fat meats and certain types of gut cancers, said Brown. Theres even a bigger body of evidence about obesity and cancer, female cancers, pancreas cancer.

Dr. Margaret Cuomo has produced a documentary and a companion book, both called A World Without Cancer.

Teichner took a spin around Dr. Cuomos local supermarket on Long Island. Her advice: Eat the rainbow. We want to eat a variety of colorful vegetables and fruits, Dr. Cuomo said. The anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory qualities of the vegetables and fruits were seeing here today are those elements that are going to help us reduce the risk for cancer, diabetes and other diseases.

Dr. Margaret Cuomo (with correspondent Martha Teichner).

CBS News

So says Cuomo, but there is some debate about the role of specific foods in cancer prevention, even organics. Still, shes a believer and says consider organic. But if you gasp at the price, buy as much as you can afford. Its important that you eat the vegetable, so if you cannot get them organic, youre gonna eat the vegetables regardless.

And heres something you may not have thought about: We want to keep to the periphery of a supermarket, she said.

Rodale

Why? Because the healthier foods are going to be located there.

She says fill your cart with fruits and veggies, like tomatoes, peppers, oranges, broccoli, kale, collards, cabbage.

And try green tea. Green tea is known to have catechins, and that has a powerful anti-cancer effect, she said.

And what does all that look like on your dinner plate?

You want two-thirds of that plate to be consisting of vegetables, whole grains and fruits, with one-third of it protein, Dr. Cuomo said. That protein can be a bean -- black beans, chick peas, lentils. It can be a lean protein, like fish or poultry.

Teichner asked, And what do you say to people who say, I hate all that stuff?

Learn to like it, Dr. Cuomo laughed. Its good for you!

For more info:

Originally posted here:
Food for thought: Your diet and cancer - CBS News - CBS News

Dr. David Katz, Preventive Medicine: Diet and truth – New Haven Register

Posted: March 12, 2017 at 6:46 pm

In late February, Dr. Salim Yusuf, a prominent cardiologist, gave a talk at the Zurich Heart House, circulated on YouTube before it was pulled. Citing observational data of his own, Yusuf asserted, after noting that he has no expertise in nutrition, that in effect, everything we know about diet and cardiovascular disease is wrong.

He told the world that eating fish is neutral, eating vegetables useless, and that heart disease rates go down as meat-eating goes up. If only he had recommended smoking cigarettes, the bizarre, surreality of it would have been complete enough to rival that famous scene in Sleeper.

Of course, this is wrong and strangely, for a researcher who has written many times on matters of epidemiologic methodology, wrong at the level of Epi 101.

Yusuf was citing observational data across many countries. The sine qua non of interpreting such data reasonably is the avoidance of the ecological fallacy, in which A and B both happen but are true, true, and unrelated.

Advertisement

For instance, there is much less Ebola where there is more 4G LTE cell phone service, and more Ebola where cell phone service is poor, patchy, or absent. This, of course, is not because 4G LTE cell towers protect against the Ebola virus, but because Ebola is endemic in poor, rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa that lack such towers. There are innumerable examples of similarly nonsensical associations.

Sticking with only the most obvious of rebuttals: meat is a very small part of the diets in poor countries. As countries become more affluent, they can afford, and sadly for the health of people and planet alike generally choose to eat more meat. But affluence doesnt just procure meat. It also procures medicine, and technology. Countries that eat more meat have more cardiologists to prescribe drugs, and perform angioplasties; they have more cardiothoracic surgeons doing coronary bypass procedures.

One obvious way to confirm or refute the merit of cross-sectional data is to look for change over time in those very behaviors in a given population, and then ask if the results were as predicted.

Cultural transitions in both India and China have shifted traditional, plant-based diets to more meat-centric, Western type diets, and rates of chronic disease in general, diabetes and heart disease in particular, have skyrocketed. These massive examples, alarmingly on display for all the world to see, belie Dr. Yusufs conclusions.

So does a study, just published in JAMA, which looked at dietary components associated with mortality in the U.S.

Controlling carefully for other relevant variables, this study reaffirms the associations long backed by the weight of scientific evidence and sense alike: increased risk with highly processed foods, and reduced risk with vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, and fish.

We actually know some things about diet and health. These days, that view is often attacked as defense of dogma. But truth is not dogma; its just true. Its not dogma to defend heliocentrism against excessive scriptural literalism; it is irrefutable fact. And though many fewer accept it as such, so is evolution by natural selection. So is climate change. Scientists throughout history have at times died defending truth objectionable in their day, and the forces that burned them at the stake were the forces of dogma.

I presume we can agree that when zoos give meat to the lions and eucalyptus leaves to the koalas, it is not in the service of dogma.

Rather, it actually is possible to know some things based on consistent observation and sensible interpretation in context. We know what to feed dogs and dolphins, porcupines and penguins and tropical fish accordingly. We have the same bounty of observational information about Homo sapiens.

We have data from randomized trials, too, showing again, and again, and again much the same thing. Across populations and places around the world, decades and generations and research methods; diets rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, lentils, nuts, and seeds and plain water for thirst lower rates of chronic disease and premature death, and diets lower in these and higher in meat, soda, and processed foods do the opposite.

The defense of this contention, which enjoys the support of a global whos who in public health, owes nothing whatsoever to dogma but rather is richly informed by data. It is a defense against dogma, a defense of both science and sense where they converge in a veritable sea of supporting sources.

Those of us defending what we truly do know about diet and health generally need not fear being burned at the stake these days for our pains. But since diet and lifestyle are the leading determinants of years added to or taken from lives, and life added to or taken from years there certainly are lives at stake in this debate. For that very reason, science and sense must prevail.

Dr. David L. Katz;www.davidkatzmd.com; founder, True Health Initiative

Continued here:
Dr. David Katz, Preventive Medicine: Diet and truth - New Haven Register

Diet 101: The Ketogenic Diet – Healthy Eats (blog)

Posted: March 12, 2017 at 6:46 pm

The latest fad diet riding on the coat tails of the low-carb trend is the ketogenic diet. This nutrition planhas been around for ages, and has been effectively used in the treatment of epilepsy, but its also become popular to help folks shed pounds. Heres what you need to know about this diet plan before you hop on another fad diet bandwagon.

About the Diet

This diet promotes low carb, moderate protein, and high fat intake touting health benefits such as weight loss and improved overall health. It promotes an extremely low intake of carbs: about 30 grams per day. For the average American on a 2,000 calorie diet, this would be 120 calories of any type of carb per day. You can find carbohydrates in fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and legumes which, when minimized in the diet, limits food choices dramatically. The distribution of macronutrients recommended is 5% carbohydrates, 25% protein, and 70% fat.

The fats recommended include both unsaturated like avocado and fatty fish along with saturated like whole milk, sour cream, and mayonnaise. Flour, sugar, and other such carbs are not recommended on the plan. Fruits are eaten in very small amount, low carb vegetables are recommended, and nuts in moderation.

The purpose of taking in so few carbs is to put your body in a state called ketosis. As carbs (AKA glucose) is the bodys primary source of energy, 30 grams of carbs runs out quickly forcing the body to utilize fat and some protein (or ketones made from fat) as a source of energy. When excess fat and protein is used for fuel, it creates an acidic environment in the blood, known as acidosis. Long-term acidosis can cause damage to your organs and is potentially deadly. While in this state, the body acts as if it is in starvation mode and other side effects include headaches, fatigue, irritability, and loss of muscle mass.

The Costs

Although this diet eliminates added sugars, the plethora of protein and fats can cost you a pretty penny (avocados and meat arent cheap!). Further, its very tough to follow a diet with a maximum limit of 30 grams of carbs, which is equivalent to 2 slices of bread.

This plan also eliminates many food groups, especially fruits and vegetables which have been shown to help lower the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease. The 2015 dietary guidelines found that 90% of Americans dont eat the recommended amount of vegetables, while about 85% dont eat the recommended amount of fruit. Eliminating most fruit and vegetables also takes away many important vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that can help keep you healthy in the long run.

Other huge costs include taste and sustainability of the diet. Eating loads of meat, cheese, and avocado can get boring without fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts. Go ahead and try it for a few days, or even a week or two, and youll miss out on those other food groups in no time.

The Good

The Not-So-Good

Bottom Line

Between the lack of nutrition, health consequences and lack of flavor, this is one diet plan that just isnt healthy (or tasty!) to follow.

Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and consultant who specializes in food safety and culinary nutrition. She is the author ofThe Greek Yogurt Kitchen: More Than 130 Delicious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Day.

*This article was written and/or reviewed by an independent registered dietitian nutritionist.

More:
Diet 101: The Ketogenic Diet - Healthy Eats (blog)

Dramatic change to the 5:2 diet will make fast days a LOT easier – Mirror.co.uk

Posted: March 12, 2017 at 6:46 pm

Good news for adherents of the 5:2 diet - you can now heap a little bit more onto your meagre plate during "fast" days.

Dr Michael Mosley, who devised the weight loss regime, has addressed what is arguably his diet plan's biggest draw back - restricting yourself to just 600 calories two days a week.

Dr Mosley accepted that sticking to such a rigid food intake in 24 hours was a push for even the most committed dieter.

So he's made a few adjustments to the plan, which has won an army of global followers, including A-listers like Beyonce and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Bride-to-be shed HALF her body weight in a year so she would look good in her wedding photos

Dr Mosley's new diet plan adds an additional 200 calories onto your 'fast day', allowing you to gorge on a maximum of 800 calories across three meals.

He also advises starting your 24-hour fasting period in the evening, so that you sleep through almost half of it, making it easier to resist the hunger pangs.

"What Id recommend is that you have a slightly earlier supper on the evening before, and then a slighter later breakfast on the fasting day," he told Mail Online.

"That way, youll be fasting for 13 hours or more overnight."

However he warned not to waste those extra 200 calories on 'empty calories' - normally junk or process foods that contain little nutrition.

Dr Mosley is a self-confessed nutrition nerd, who presents consumer documentary shows for BBC's Horizon.

It was while he was doing research for the show in 2012 that he came across intermittent fasting and decided to try it out for himself.

He lost 20lbs and reversed the type 2 diabetes he had only just been diagnosed with.

View original post here:
Dramatic change to the 5:2 diet will make fast days a LOT easier - Mirror.co.uk

Let’s make it fat loss not weight loss – Thegardenisland.com

Posted: March 12, 2017 at 6:45 pm

It is very motivating to see the scale reflect weight loss when you are trying to drop some pounds. But the scale can deceive and is not truly a good measure of what could be occurring. The reality is that for effective weight loss to occur you need to reduce your caloric intake with a sensible diet and increase your caloric output through exercise.

The exercise aspect helps you retain lean muscle mass a factor that is crucial in optimizing your lean body mass /fat ratio. A better measure of this type of weight loss (fat loss rather than muscle loss) is the body fat composition test, using calipers or impedance or immersion techniques.

In the hands of a skilled and practiced trainer, the calipers are very accurate and can give a good picture of where the weight loss is originating.

During normal weight loss, it is generally expected that the ratio of fat-to-muscle loss is three to one, meaning that for every pound of fat that you lose, you will lose a pound of muscle.

However, this is a problem since muscle is important in the regulation of resting energy metabolism and the primary site of glucose uptake which helps ward off diabetes.

The amount of energy needed by the body to fulfill its metabolic requirements is called the resting energy expenditure and the requirement is strongly correlated to the amount of lean muscle mass that you possess.

Most experts place that figure around 60 to 70 percent of your total energy expenditure.

Muscle tissue is primarily composed of protein and are responsible for nearly every cellular task in the body. Proteins form hormones, enzymes and body tissue especially muscle.

Although exercising during a fat loss program will help your body retain muscle, the dietary components of what you eat on your weight loss program is also important in order to protect the protein stores on and in your body.

The American requirements for protein consumption generally are accepted as between .8 to .9 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. For those who work out or for those who are wishing to lose fat but not muscle, the consumption of protein at a slightly higher than recommended level has a number of advantages.

Some of these advantages include a greater thermogenic effect (fat burning effect) and greater satiety effect (you feel full longer), and a greater potential for fat loss. The level suggested to effect these changes is around 1.4 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.

Most researchers agree that taking the protein intake to 25 to 35 percent of the dietary energy level that is having 25 to 35 percent of your calories come from protein can offset muscle loss, promote greater fat loss and increased muscle size. This is in comparison to some authorities that state that the diet should be only 20 percent protein based.

Roughly, consuming approximately 20 to 30 grams of protein each meal will promote better fat loss and substantiate lean muscle mass retention.

Protein pacing is a method of eating small, frequent, lean protein-packed meals that can result in better fat loss, better athletic performance and better overall health including more balanced sugar metabolism.

Dr. Arciero (Journal of Nutritional Metabolism, 2015) stated that protein pacing should lead one to consume approximately 1.4 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily. Athletes who train hard may consider even more going to as much as two grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. The protein should be spread out into four to six meals per day, with each meal consisting of 20 to 30 grams of protein.

His work also indicates that those individuals who used whey protein and spaced their intake throughout the day were those who lost more body fat, lost more abdominal body fat and retained their lean body mass.

Dr. Arcieros study showed that it was not the total calories consumed that caused this effect but rather the spacing and consuming of high quality whey protein throughout the day.

Using tools such as the BMI (simply as ratio of your weight to your height) or simply the scale to measure your weight loss doesnt really give you a clear picture of your fat loss. I encourage you to eat cleaner and lean-based protein, workout to enhance your muscle and use sensible tools to chart your progress.

Dr. Jane Riley, Ed.D., is a certified personal fitness trainer, certified nutritional adviser, and certified behavior change specialist. She can be reached at janerileyfitness@gmail.com, 212-8119 cell/text and http://www.janerileyfitness.com

The rest is here:
Let's make it fat loss not weight loss - Thegardenisland.com

Healthy Living: Want to know the key to weight loss success? – Branford News

Posted: March 12, 2017 at 6:45 pm

Every week, I receive several emails and messages from people wanting to know how to be successful at losing weight. The thing is that weight loss success is not the result of doing one thing. It's also not something that will happen in one day you have to be consistent and stick with it especially when it gets tough.Fact of the matter is it can be pretty darn hard and it's something I still struggle with especially since my hysterectomy which is why I try to look at the big picture.

If you are looking for a quick fix, you will not find it in this article.I've walked that walk many times looking for the magic weight loss potion. Personally I have tried just about every quick fix gimmick on the market at one time or another.Sure I would be able to lose some weight but as soon as I stopped doing whatever it was that I was doing, I would gain back the weight I lost PLUS more. Also it's kind of scary when I think back to some of the weight loss products I've tried.

The best way to be successful in ANY thing you want to achieve in life is by first being 100 percent committed to the process and staying on track no matter how hard it may be. And I promise you it will be hard. Secondly, find someone who is already successful at what you want to do and ask for their help. Most of us can do something for one day, maybe one week or possibly for one month. After that it gets harder to stay on track even when you can see the finish line in your future. Having that successful person in your corner will help you push through those difficult times.

Where should you start if you want to lose weight the healthy way? By following the K.I.S.S. method. Keep It Simple Silly. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

When trying to lose weight, your diet is more important than exercise.Think of food as fuel for your body.You would not put water in your car as fuel because your car is not designed to run on water. You need gasoline for fuel for your car. The same goes for your body. Choose whole foods over processed foods and your body will perform as it is designed to do.

Calculate how many calories your body needs to maintain your current weight.It's important to know where to start and this is your starting point.You actually may NOT be consuming enough calories. What happens is your body holds on to what you are eating because it does not know when it will receive fuel again.

If you're hungry eat. Choose whole foods and skip the processed empty calories of soda, chips or even "healthy" bars.

Start your day by drinking a glass of water. Why?Your body is coming off a food and water fast while you were sleeping.That glass of water will hydrate your body and get things moving.

To lose weight you need to consume fewer calories than you are using each day but not to the point that you are starving your body.Taking a sensible approach to weight loss will help you stay on track and reach your goals.

To your health,

Denise

Denise Sanger is a certified fitness instructor, FXP Hoop instructor, licensed Zumba, STRONG by Zumba instructor, teaches morning classes at and co-founder of Family Fitness Outreach Center with Becky Skipper. Their goal is a healthier Suwannee County. Denise may be reached at DeniseSanger.com,386/292-6105ordenisesanger@gmail.com

Read the original post:
Healthy Living: Want to know the key to weight loss success? - Branford News

Here’s the Real Reason Mama June Went from a Size 18 to a Shocking Size 4 – PEOPLE.com

Posted: March 12, 2017 at 6:45 pm

Mama June Shannons trainer has tough love for his reality star client.

In an exclusive PEOPLE Now clip from Mama June: From Hot To Not, Shannon and her trainer, Kenya Crooks, take a break on park swings to reevaluate her slim down goals and whether she is losing weight for herself andnot just revenge.

The reason why Im pushing you so hard is I know you can do better. Question: Why are you doing this? Crooks starts.

June confesses, Im trying to lose weight for Sugar Bears wedding because my ex is getting married. Im trying to rebrand myself as like the skinnier Mama June.

Crooks is skeptical and says Junes reasons dont have to do with her.

RELATED VIDEO: Mama June: From Not To Hot See Her Dramatic Weight Loss

At some point you have to make a conscientious decision to start putting yourself first, he urges.

Though June insists she wants to be the hottest thing at this wedding, she worries if she can reach her goal dress a size 4, down from her size 18! And Crookshas no doubts June can flaunt her new self and goal dress at the wedding, sealing it with the power of the pinky.

From Coinage:Wedding Etiquette Isnt Hard, But Just in Case, Here Are Eight Tips

Can we both agree that were together? he says, to which June says, Yeah!

Mama June: From Not to HotairsFridays at 10p.m. ET on WEtv.

Original post:
Here's the Real Reason Mama June Went from a Size 18 to a Shocking Size 4 - PEOPLE.com

Health department enrolling for free weight-loss classes – Edmond Sun

Posted: March 12, 2017 at 6:45 pm

OKLAHOMA CITY The Oklahoma City-County Health Department (OCCHD) will offer a free weight-loss program this spring to help people lose 5 percent of their body weight. Total Wellness classes are an interactive weight-loss program that meets once a week to prevent diabetes and heart disease.

The program runs for eight weeks, and participants learn how to make healthy choices, find time to be more physically active, change unhealthy behaviors, lose weight and feel stronger.

Sign-up is open now for the spring sessions that begin in April and are offered at eight locations around the Oklahoma City metro. Please complete the Total Wellness website form. Attendees will receive a confirmation email from OCCHD prior to the start of class. For more information, call 405-425-4422 or email totalwellness@occhd.org.

Please call Ken Johnson, OCCHD Media Relations Coordinator, at (405) 425-4315 to schedule an interview with a Total Wellness subject matter expert.

View original post here:
Health department enrolling for free weight-loss classes - Edmond Sun

British mum held prisoner in Iran is ‘virtually unable to walk’ as she suffers severe weight and hair loss – Mirror.co.uk

Posted: March 12, 2017 at 6:45 pm

The health of a British mum locked up in an Iranian prison on secret charges is rapidly deteriorating as she suffers dramatic weight and hair loss and is left "virtually unable to walk", her family have said.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 38, a British-Iranian citizen, was detained as she was trying to return to Britain with her daughter Gabriella after visiting family in Iran last April.

Since then she has been held as a political prisoner and sentenced to five years behind bars for charges which have not been made public.

The charity worker was accused of plotting to topple the Iranian regime and an appeal made to lower her sentence was rejected in January.

Now Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffes sister-in-law Rebecca Jones, who lives in Cardiff, said that while her brother Richards wife was no longer being kept in high security, she was starting to suffer physically.

Evin Prison, where she is held, is known for its severe conditions and its impact on prisoners health.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe is said to have suffered dangerous weight loss, hair loss and has become virtually unable to walk.

GP Mrs Jones said: Nazanin is still in Evin Prison. Shes now in a political wing, so she is no longer isolated and is with other prisoners so she is starting to make friends.

Physically, her health is deteriorating. She now has problems with her left shoulder, neck and left arm.

She had a visit from a neurologist who wanted her to go to hospital but every prison has rejected that, though negotiations are ongoing.

She now has more regular visits from Gabriella with her mum and dad and she gets occasional calls to Richard once or twice a month.

Richard Ratcliffe has not seen his wife or daughter since before they left for Iran, with Gabriella in the care of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffes parents who live in Tehran.

Mrs Jones said: Shes still very desperate to come out as soon as possible. Shes having a lot of panic attacks, anxiety and restless nights which are affecting her physical health as well. In many ways things have got better for her but I think it has hit home that her release might not be imminent any time soon.

Of course she has been in prison with women who havent been released for seven or eight years.

Back in the UK, Mr Ratcliffe, of Hampstead, north-west London, has been in contact with the UK Government to petition them to put pressure on Iranian regime to release his wife.

Mrs Jones said: I think the longer this goes on the more frustrating it is for Richard.

The whole family are bewildered why nobody high up in the Government hasnt asked for her release. When you go back and talk to the Government and nothing much has changed, its disheartening really.

There are good days and bad days. Richard tries to be upbeat but when hes in his flat on his own he can get quite low.

Mrs Jones will be holding an event in Cardiff city centre next Sunday to celebrate Nowruz, the traditional Iranian festival of spring, considered the start of the new year among Iranians.

It is hoped more than 100 people will attend the event, with local Amnesty groups supporting it.

Readings will be performed, including a letter from Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe. After this, 30 hyacinths will be planted in the market garden next to St John the Baptist Church, to symbolise Nowruz.

Mrs Jones said: Were doing this to mark Nowruz which is why Nazanin went out to Iran in the first place and to show her we are still thinking of her.

When we have events like this, its uplifting to get support from people and it helps Nazanin and her family.

A spokesman from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: We are deeply concerned that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffes sentence has been confirmed following an unsuccessful appeal while Iran continues to refuse the UK consular access to her.

The UKs Minister for the Middle East, Tobias Ellwood, has spoken to his Iranian opposite number to express our concerns.

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have both previously raised this case with their counterparts.

We have been supporting Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffes family since we were first made aware of her arrest.

Mr Ellwood has met her husband in London and her family in Tehran to assure them that we will continue to do all we can for her.

We are continuing to press the Iranians for consular access and for due process to be followed, and are ready to help get her daughter back safely to the UK if requested.

Read this article:
British mum held prisoner in Iran is 'virtually unable to walk' as she suffers severe weight and hair loss - Mirror.co.uk

OBESITY: Be healthy, not heavy – Nigeria Today

Posted: March 12, 2017 at 6:45 pm

By Sola Ogundipe

Obesity means having far too much body fat. Its about much more than your clothing size or how you look. It can seriously affect your health. Your whole body feels it, from your joints to your heart, blood pressure, blood sugar, and other systems. The extra fat cells produce inflammation and various hormones, which boosts your odds of chronic medical conditions.

Obesity describes someone who is very overweight with a high degree of body fat. Being a little overweight may not cause many noticeable problems, but once you are carrying a few extra kilograms, you may develop symptoms that affect your daily life.

Are you obese?

Obesity is beyond being simply overweight. Its very common more than 1 in 5 adults are obese. If youre one of them, you can work to lose weight. Although its not easy, dropping some of those extra kilos maybe fewer than you think starts to turn things around for you.

Body Mass Index

The most widely used method to assess a persons weight is the body mass index (BMI), which is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres squared.

For adults, experts usually define obesity based on body mass index. If your BMI is between 25 and 29, you would be considered overweight; if between 30 and 40, you would be considered obese and if over 40, you would be considered very obese.

What your BMI says

If two people weigh the same amount but one is taller than the other, the taller person will have a lower BMI. To find your body mass index, plug your height and weight into a BMI calculator.

If your BMI is: Below 18.5 you are underweight. If it is 18.5-24.9 youre normal; 25-29.9 is overweight and 30 or higher is obese. If youre obese, your doctor might talk about the categories of obesity:

Obesity level l: BMI of 30-34.9

Obesity level ll: BMI of 35-39.9

Obesity level lll: BMI of 40 or higher (morbid) obesity

Problems with BMI

Body mass index doesnt tell the whole story about your body, though. Your BMI doesnt show whether your weight is fat or muscle. If youre a super-fit athlete, your muscle might put you in the overweight or obese range. Or, if youre elderly and have lost muscle mass over the years, your BMI could be normal, but youre not in as good shape as you think. The formula also doesnt show where your fat is located on your body. And it doesnt consider differences among ethnic groups.

As obese children also tend to be obese in later life, it is important for parents to set the right example for their children from an early age. If you are overweight or obese, visit your doctor to find out if you are at increased risk of health problems, and how you can safely lose weight.

Underlying causes for obesity

*certain medicine or a medical condition that causes weight gain,

*your lifestyle particularly your diet and how much physical activity you do, and also whether you smoke, and how much alcohol you drink

*how you feel about being overweight for example, if you are feeling depressed about it or how motivated you are to lose weight

*family history of obesity and other health conditions, such as diabetes

As well as calculating your BMI, your doctor may also perform tests including measuring your blood pressure, the distance around your waist, as well as glucose (sugar) and lipid (fat) levels in your blood.

Obesity vs overweight

Being obese is different from being overweight. Obesity is an important condition which causes significant morbidity and mortality through increased rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus and heart disease, amongst other conditions. It can also cause sleep disturbances and lead to reduced fertility rates.

Obesity and pain

There now appears to be a strong link between obesity and pain. Studies show that obese people are much more likely to feel light to intense pain in many parts of the body. Scientists do not understand exactly how or why obesity causes pain, but it is clear that weight loss can help reduce pain and improve quality of life for obese patients.

Check your Waist Size

Another useful method is to measure around your waist. Men whose waist measurement is 40 inches or 94 cm or more and women whose waist measurment is 35 inches or 80 cm or more are more likely to develop obesity-related health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer.

If your waist is more than 35 inches around and youre a woman, or if its more than 40 inches and youre a man, you might have too much belly fat. Carrying extra fat around your stomach is unhealthy, no matter what your BMI is.

The Edmonton Scale

There are five stages:

Stage 0: You dont have any health problems related to your weight.

Stage 1: Any weight-related health problems are mild (such as borderline high blood pressure or occasional aches and pains).

Stage 2: You have an obesity-related chronic disease, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, or osteoarthritis, and you have moderate problems doing daily activities or feeling well.

Stage 3: Youve had serious weight-related problems, such as a heart attack, heart failure, stroke, or other conditions.

Stage 4: This is the most severe level of weight-related chronic health conditions, which are extreme and life-threatening..

What obesity does to your body

The risks go up and up as BMI increases. Obesity puts extra stress on your bones, joints, and organs, making them work harder than they should. Too much body fat raises your blood pressure and cholesterol, and makes heart disease and stroke more likely. It also worsens conditions like osteoarthritis, back pain, asthma, and sleep apnea.

Too much fat causes inflammation that can damage cells. Obesity is also linked to several types of cancers. It can also make your body respond less well to insulin, which controls your blood sugar. Over time, that can lead to type 2 diabetes.

The weight makes it harder to be active, too. Carrying around extra pounds takes extra energy, so it can be difficult for obese people to exercise.

What helps

If youve tried to lose weight before, you know its much easier said than done. Its not just about willpower, and the solutions go way beyond counting calories, fat grams, or carbs. What you eat and how active you are affects your whole day. Youll need to makeover the habits that go into your meals, snacks, and activities.

Thats a huge commitment. Take it one small step at a time. You can build on successes. Dont try to do too much, too soon. If you often eat for emotional reasons, youll need to find other ways to handle the feelings that usually make you eat. Consider talking with a counselor. She can help you make those shifts in how you think, and how you relate to food and to your body.

Meanwhile, your body might resist your weight-loss efforts. If someone does lose 20 or 30 pounds, their metabolism goes down and they start to burn fewer calories. Our bodies are designed to regain weight, so its much easier to prevent obesity than to treat it.

Making changes

Before you start to make changes, write down everything you eat and drink for a few days. This can help you decide what you need to change about your diet.

Most people, at any weight, need to eat more fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. They also need to cut out junk food and sugary drinks.

Being active is also key. Any kind of movement helps, and you dont have to go to a gym. Ask your doctor whats OK for you to do. A certified personal trainer can help you plan a workout that fits your needs.

If you find that you need more help than diet and exercise, talk with your doctor. Certain prescription drugs are approved for weight loss. They curb your appetite or prevent your body from absorbing fat. Youll still need to watch what you eat and be active.

Weight loss surgery can help people lose large amounts of weight. But its not right for everyone, and it does have risks. You wont be able to eat like you used to, you might need to take vitamins to meet your nutritional needs, and youll need to work on diet and exercise to keep up the results.

Keep your perspective

If it all seems like too much to take on, or if your past tries to lose weight make you wonder if it will ever happen for you, take a moment to challenge those thoughts. Its not about being a certain size. Its about small steps that add up to better health over time. If you lose as little as 5-10 per cent of your weight, it starts to make a positive difference. Focus on what is possible for you and what you can commit to, even if its just for right now. You can make the decision again tomorrow and build your way to where you want to be, day by day.

The post OBESITY: Be healthy, not heavy appeared first on Vanguard News.

This post was syndicated from Vanguard News. Click here to read the full text on the original website.

Follow us on twitter @NigeriaTodayNG

Also, Like us on facebook

Visit link:
OBESITY: Be healthy, not heavy - Nigeria Today


Page 1,667«..1020..1,6661,6671,6681,669..1,6801,690..»